Incendiary agents

One member of this class of compds, known to be used as an incendiary agent, is trie thy b aluminum [A1(C2H5)3]. Similar agents, such as trimethylaluminum or trimethylmagnesium, might also have possible military applications as incendiaries. Diethyl zinc has been employed as an igniter (Ref 3)... 

TEA is currently being used in small incendiary rockets which can be fired from the shoulder by a lightweight launcher, designed to replace conventional flamethrowers. It is the incendiary agent in several prototype large cal incendiary projectiles for use by armored vehicles (Ref 7,... 

The concept of the controlled chemical fireball is said to have significantly advanced the potential effectiveness of incendiary weapons. Theoretical studies have indicated that a great many applications may be possible, since, by changing the blend of the chemical constituents so as to achieve predetermined rates of combustion, the incendiary agent may be adapted to various operational requirements... 

Na is a very reactive substance which is never found free in nature. It is not generally used as an incendiary agent as such but, because of its tendency not only to float on w, but also to ignite spontaneously in contact with it, it may be added to napalm for use against river targets or enemy positions in rice paddy fields or in snow (Ref 7, p 103 Ref 4, pp 28-29)... 

Many of these substances have been investigated in the context of rocket propulsion technology, since, chemically, the combustion of rocket fuels is related to the combustion of incendiary agents. Though by-products of rocket research may be theoretically of interest as potential incendiary agents, it remains to be seen whether they are feasible economically (Ref 7.n 103)... 

Incendiary Agents, Incendiary Compounds and Mixtures, Incendiary Devices, Incendiary Missiles, etc)... 

M. K. Shevchuk, Zazhigatel nyie Sredstva i Zashchita ot Nikh (Incendiary Agents and Protection from Them), Voyennoye Izdatel , Moskva (1961)—a book in Russian... 

An incendiary agent should be difficult to extinguish. However, this does not mean that an agent that resists extinguishment is always a better incendiary but it is desirable. For example, thermite that continues to burn even under water, is not satisfactory as a general purpose incendiary. 

Good heat radiating qualities are an asset to an incendiary agent, that is, the spread of luminosity for good distances greatly increases the probability of fire raising. 

Phosphorus and its compounds have also been used as incendiary agents against personnel and readily combustible materials. Burning phosphorus produces serious burns and tends to demoralize enemy troops. WP is effective against most easily combustible targets because it has a low combustion temperature but it is relatively ineffective for others. 

During World War II, the Germans developed the production of chlorine trifluoride as an incendiary agent. 

Dragon s Breath. (Drachenatem in Get Aliento del dragon in Span), An incendiary agent for use in flame throwers (Flammen-werfer in Get Lanzallamas in Span), developed in GtBritain before WWJI and then improved in the USA, As this liquid becomes viscous and harder the moment it comes in contact with air, it is possible to throw it as far as 100 meters (Refs 1 2)... 

U is a member of the actinide series of elements which, together with the rare earths and the transition elements, possess a high heat of oxidation, a low oxide density compared with that of the metal, and the presence of an unfilled d shell in its electronic structure. While the reasons for the high pyrophoric potential of U are not clearly understood, they are thought to be related to these aforementioned properties (see under Pyrotechnics in Vol 8, P511 and Pyrophoric Incendiary Agents , P503-L)... 

See also in Vol 8, M149-L to M154-L under Moisture , P502-L to P504-R under Pyrophoric Incendiary Agents , and in Vol 9 under Slurry Explosives ... 

Scheelite. Incendiary agent used to some extent during WWI. It consisted of 1 p hexamethylenetetramine and 2p Na peroxide. When ignited with sulfuric acid it reacted very rapidly in the open, generating considerable heat and flames. When confined it explds Refs 1) A.M. Prentiss, Chemicals in War , McGraw Hill, NY (1937) 2) Anon, Incendi-... 

Examples of the variation of process a from the refs include 1) semipyrophoric FeO is obtd by heating ferrous oxalate to 390—410° for 10—11 mins in a tube in which air has been replaced by N2 and then cooling 2) semipyro-phone FeO can also be produced by reducing ferrous oxalate in a stream of H2 at 400° for 1 hr See also Pyrophoric Incendiary Agents in Vol 8, P502-L to P504-R Refs 1)0. Wyss, Semipyrophoric Metals , GerP 595069 (1934) CA 29, 1252 (1935)... 

Sodium. See in Vol 8, P502-L to P504-R under Pyrophoric Incendiary Agents ... 

For addnl information on TEA see under Pyrophoric Incendiary Agents in Vol 8, P503-L to P504-R... 

Thermite was used for industrial purposes, such as welding railway lines, prior to WWI. It was used quite extensively as a military incendiary agent during WWI by most of the major combatants. Commercial Thermite is simply a loose mixt, but for military purposes a binder was necessary to prevent separation of the constituents. Na or K silicate or S were usually used for this purpose. Where a coned incendiary effect was required, the silicate binder was more effective, since the molten products were, able to penetrate metal and prolong the incendiary action. Where a scattering action was required,... 

Thermite does not have the same ability as Mg or oil incendiary agents to start secondary fires because its heat of combustion is comparatively low and because it bums so quickly. However, the high temp produced by burning Thermite is sufficient to melt iron or steel with which it comes in contact, and it is very effective as an igniter for Mg bombs. It is still used in hand grenades and bombs... 

Iron-III-oxide forms a red to reddish to blood red powder with varying chemical composition. It is insoluble in water, and the usual solvents, and iron-III-oxide that has been roasted for several hours is almost insoluble in acids. Iron-III-oxide is a major ingredient in thermite and other incendiary agents. 

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